A question for elementary school teachers?

Question

Do schools in your area still teach that Christopher Columbus discovered America, and that the U.S. has never ever lost a war? What do you do when a student comes in with proof otherwise?

(I just ask because I remember when I was told that, but I am Native American and I know my people were here before Columbus... And the U.S. war thing, even I knew that was a little off from the truth.)

I'm not a teacher but thanks...

Answer 1

I am a retired elementary teacher, 68 yrs old, and we always taught our children that Native Americans were here first and how we think they got here. While I was first teaching we were LOSING the Viet Nam war lol.

Answer 2

As a retired elementary school teacher, I always taught that Native Americans were here first. From his side of the world, Christopher Columbus discovered that the world was not flat. When a child comes in with any information, accept it and show research via the Internet or references what you know is true.

Does anyone actually win a war with so many lives lost and the destruction that is caused? I never taught that there are winners, but I say people think they win when the other side decides not to fight any more.

Answer 3

I don't know about all of the schools in this area, but I teach Christopher Columbus as one explorer that came into the New World.

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with teaching about controversial topics, as long as you are doing it from an objective standpoint. Let the kids see both sides and discuss it, coming to conclusions themselves.

Columbus was an important European explorer, who, for better or worse (and most probably a bit of both) changed the face of the Americas.

I have told my students that he came to the New World, and that some people praise him for his courage and conviction. I also tell them that some people feel that he should not be honored because of how his exploration affected the native people in the area.

I feel that the same treatment would work for U.S.Wars as well.

However-- ultimately- you are responsible for teaching the curriculum in your state- to the standards decided upon by your school district. You would be wise to look at what your school has decided you must teach, and ask them what you should do if it is questioned by a student. Otherwise you might very well have the courage of your convictions- but no paycheck to pay the rent with.

Answer 4

I teach in 4th grade that Christopher Columbus was the first Eurpopean Explorer of note to find and report the American continent & it's inhabitants to Western Europeans - and that this was important because at the time, there were individuals that wanted the riches that could be gathered from the America's in order to increase their own power and they now had the sailing technology to take advantage of the "discovery."

This is in context on a unit on Explorers and why discoveries by earlier Asian and Northern Europeans went unnoticed. Sort of a right time right place approach.

Most kids already know that the Native American's were here first, that's not really an issue any more. That's been well covered in younger grades (even my 4 year old learned that in pre-school).

And regarding wars: I would never teach that the US has "never lost a war" - but I never heard that growing up.

Answer 5

I teach 1st grade so most things are still pretty black and white, there is very little room for gray area. I always say that he thought he was the first to find America but there were already Native Americans here (most kids know this). As for the wars, we don't go into much details about wars just that they happened, why and major leaders at the time.

Answer 6

Agree with first answer....I teach first grade